UN blames military for political slays

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MANILA, Philippines — Whatever the figure, the number of killings of journalists and leftist activists in the Philippines is “distressing,” and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should persuade the Armed Forces to “acknowledge” the fact and conduct a “genuine” investigation, United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston said Wednesday.

Defense, military silent on Alston report

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MANILA, Philippines — The defense and military establishments on Wednesday chose silence vis-à-vis the initial findings of United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, but Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez came out with guns blazing.

Melo stands by commission’s findings

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MANILA, Philippines — Former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo Wednesday said he was standing by the finding of the fact-finding commission on extrajudicial killings that certain military officials should be held accountable by virtue of “command responsibility.”

‘AFP in denial’ (‘Virtual impunity’ due to witness vulnerability)

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Extrajudicial killings in the country will not stop unless Malacañang and the Armed Forces acknowledge the reality of rights violations and reevaluate their counterinsurgency strategy, the UN special rapporteur warned on Wednesday.

The government offered yesterday protection to victims of atrocities and harassment from the New People’s Army (NPA) and their front party-list organizations to encourage them to come out and testify against these leftist groups. The same protection was offered to families of these victims.

He copied the buyer’s contact number and was dismissed.

Published by anna
Date posted on February 15, 2007

After being illegally dismissed on June 2002, union member Sherwin Robosa received the National Labor Relations Commission’s decision on his illegal dismissal case, which ordered management to reinstate him and to pay his backwages worth Php 135, 242.63, on January 21, 2004.

Union TRO’d in organizing attempt

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Employers have perfected a new practice in attempting to bust unions. If warnings, threats, intimidation, harassment, transfers of union officers and activists, “carrots”, delaying tactics in hearings, etc. do not work, there is still that ‘legal means’ to thwart union formation . That’s the temporary restraining order (TRO).

Flagrant Violations of Core Labour Standards in xxx

Published by anna
Date posted on February 11, 2007

What country is being referred to? Flagrant violations of core labour standards in xxx Brussels, 16 January 2008 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC released a new report today showing that all core labour standards, even if ratified, are violated massively and flagrantly in xxx.

What women put up with in sweatshops

Published by anna
Date posted on February 5, 2007

There are many laws, rules and regulations upholding the rights of women workers in the country. Despite, many women workers (especially unionists) are victims of discrimination, harassment and abuse in their work places. Oftentimes, women tolerate dire conditions and shun complaining or more forceful action for fear of losing their jobs. Consider what women put…

Korean manager points gun at worker

Published by anna
Date posted on February 4, 2007

Roh Fung, the Korean manager of Royal House, Inc. [not their real names] pointed a 45-caliber pistol at sewer Sebastian Andres [not his real name] after he balked at signing a resignation letter and a blank sheet of paper – which later contained a statement that Andres was apologizing for causing damage to the company…

This is forced labor!

Published by anna
Date posted on February 3, 2007

(Forced overtime, a new form of forced labor, also hazardous to health) To meet export orders, many Philippine companies, including those inside economic zones, are resorting to a new form of forced labor — long, long hours of forced (many times under-compensated) overtime.

Apparel company supplies addictive drugs to workers during overnight work!

Published by anna
Date posted on February 2, 2007

(Yet underpays them for all the effort.) Workers of Assembly Apparel (not its real name) say the company gave out Duromine Phentermine-not ordinarily prescribed by doctors-to workers to keep them awake during once a week overnight work dating back to September 2002. Aside from the drug, the company also provides workers with Extra Joss, an…